Abu Dhabi [UAE]: In a landmark moment during his Middle East tour, US President Donald Trump announced over USD 200 billion in new commercial deals with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pushing total investment agreements across the Gulf region to more than USD 2 trillion, according to a White House statement.
Trump was welcomed in Abu Dhabi by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday after previous stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Major Investment Announcements:
- 🇺🇸 ✈️ Aviation:
Etihad Airways has committed USD 14.5 billion to purchase 28 American-made Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, powered by GE Aerospace engines. The deal supports an estimated 60,000 US jobs and strengthens bilateral aerospace ties. - 🇺🇸 🔧 Aluminum Manufacturing:
Emirates Global Aluminium will invest USD 4 billion in Oklahoma to develop a primary aluminum smelter, doubling US production capacity and creating 1,000 American jobs. It’s the first such project in the US in over four decades. - 🇺🇸 🛢️ Oil & Gas:
ADNOC, in partnership with ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources, is launching a USD 60 billion expansion in oil and gas production aimed at lowering energy costs and generating skilled employment. - 🇺🇸 ⚛️ Nuclear Energy:
Holtec International and UAE’s IHC Industrial Holding Company will collaborate to build SMR-300 small modular nuclear reactors starting at the Palisades site in Michigan, with a $10 billion initial commitment and $20 billion in future projects.
$1.4 Trillion Strategic Investment Framework & AI Agreement
- The new deals build on the UAE’s 10-year, USD 1.4 trillion investment framework signed earlier this year.
- A landmark US-UAE AI agreement was signed during the visit, committing the UAE to:
- Build and finance advanced US data centers
- Support US expansion in semiconductors, energy, biotech, and quantum computing
- Align UAE national security regulations with US protocols to prevent diversion of sensitive technology
“These agreements strengthen our economic partnership and protect our national security and tech leadership,” the White House said.
Symbolic Gestures: Burj Khalifa in Red, White, and Blue
To mark Trump’s visit, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa—the world’s tallest building—was lit up in red, white, and blue, while UAE and US flags lined the streets.
- The Dubai Media Office posted on X: “Burj Khalifa is illuminated in the colours of the American flag to mark the visit of US President @realDonaldTrump to the United Arab Emirates.”
- The White House also shared the Burj Khalifa image with the caption: “The Burj Khalifa just saluted America and President Trump—in red, white, and blue.”